MLA not happy with Crescent Manor changes

SOURIS — Spruce Woods MLA Colleen Robbins is criticizing a transition at Crescent Manor in Souris, saying the building has started to merge people dealing with homelessness and addictions with seniors that previously had the building to themselves.

Robbins said seniors have complained about safety concerns that arose in the past year — including instances where people in the building have left blood in a public space, banged on a neighbour’s wall and ran down a hallway nearly naked.

“When I heard those stories, I knew I needed to take this seriously,” Robbins said in a recent interview. “I just think if it was my mother or grandmother living in this home, and she couldn’t feel safe, I’d be very concerned.”

Robbins said she is speaking out because “the government is not listening to my voice alone” and is calling on Manitoba Housing to restore the building to a seniors-only home.

Robbins, a Progressive Conservative MLA, brought her concerns to the floor of the legislature in May. She said the building is now one of a number in the province that have transitioned into a mix of seniors housing and homelessness and addictions housing.

The Sun spoke with three residents last week.

One woman, drinking from a mug that read “my favourite people call me grandma,” described that she does not feel safe speaking about the issue of a neighbour.

“I don’t want to use my name because I still have to live here,” she said. “People are afraid to speak up. There’s no way I’m going to tell him ‘close your door,’ or ‘(be quiet).’”

She said she lives beside a large man who has told her that he is mentally unwell because of people like her, and has shouted into the hallway about suicide.

The woman said she feels unsafe and has concerns about crossing paths with the man during her time out of her room.

“I have to keep my door locked at all times. I have to. I’m afraid that he might be in here (when I come back).”

“About a year ago, things started to change. It used to be a 50+ building, of course you’d feel safe in here,” she said. “You always wonder whose next, coming in here, who’s next?”

An elderly lady in a separate interview took a break from completing word searches at her desk and cleaning crab apples to describe that living conditions have changed in the past year. She noted she is worried to go around socializing like she used to.

“For now, I’m not so scared that I’m shaking, but I’m not as comfortable as I once was,” she said. “Just a safety thing.”

She said that she has not had any direct problems as a result of new tenants in the building.

A third woman described witnessing a man unclothed in a public area causing a commotion.

“It was this gentlemen running up and down the hall, practically naked, and screaming,” she said, sitting on a chair and pushing her walker away. “There was blood in the hallway and in the elevator. So consequently, a lot of us kept our doors locked after that.”

The same man was respectful in later encounters when met in the hallways, and has even been known to be artistic, she said.

Because there is a waitlist, Robbins said she disagrees that seniors should compete for rooms with people who are housed for addictions and homelessness reasons.

She said it’s also unfair for people to be in the building for reasons of homelessness or addiction, because they should be receiving some type of service and support that is not provided at Crescent Manor.

“They should be in a place where there’s resources to help them. Not dropped into a place like this.”

Robbins started a petition a month ago, following her colleague Progressive Conservative MLA for Swan River Rick Wowchuk to return seniors spaces in the province. Wowchuk called for Minister Bernadette Smith to ensure seniors housing remains exclusively for people aged 55 and older; and urged her to see that “proper vetting” is done of applications from people desiring to live in seniors buildings.

In an emailed statement to the Sun, government spokesperson Andrew Chapman said that vetting takes place when people are considered for the manor.

“Manitoba Housing remains committed to providing safe, secure and dignified housing for all Manitobans,” Chapman said. “Any potential tenant younger than 50 is vetted by a district manager.”

Chapman added that just four tenants at the building are under the age of 50.

He said that the Manitoba government operates a communications line to allow tenants to file complaints and follows up with managers across the province.

“Manitoba Housing has a dedicated 24/7 Housing Communications Centre that was established so tenants can reach out with any concerns they have, and the tenant service coordinator or property manager will ensure they are taken care of.”

Souris Mayor Duane Davison did not respond to a request for comment.

» cmcdowell@brandonsun.com